Coping With Daily Foot Pain Related To Plantar Fasciitis

If you’ve been dealing with everyday foot pain caused from an illness or injury, it can be difficult to stand on your feet for any length of time. When you find yourself taking too many OTC painkillers each day or dreading getting up going to work, it’s time to seek professional help and look for alternatives for pain control. One condition that causes foot and leg pain is plantar fasciitis. Here are some ways to cope with the condition and find ways to manage the pain.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis

Have you been having a lot of foot and ankle pain? There could be many causes for the pain, so it’s important to go to your family doctor or a podiatrist to get the correct diagnosis. If your doctor told you that you have plantar fasciitis, don’t be too alarmed. While it can be uncomfortable and even painful, it can be treated. But what causes it? Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue connecting the heel and toes. Symptoms include:

*Stabbing pain in the heel

*Pain on the bottom of the foot

*Discomfort or shooting pain that shoots up the leg

Pain can range from mild to severe, making it challenging to be on your feet, walk and apply a lot of pressure to your foot. The main cause is overuse of the tissue, excessive exercise or stress from an underlying injury. Your doctor may recommend a number of treatments, including a plantar fasciitis foot brace or other foot brace to help control pain.

Medical Treatment

Your doctor will want to start treating your condition right away. For a definitive diagnosis, diagnostic imaging may be recommended such as:

*X-ray

*CAT scan

*MRI scan

From there, you may be prescribed some stronger pain control, such as steroid injections to help combat and manage your pain. A complete evaluation with a physical therapist may be recommended. From there, you’ll work on muscle stretches to help improve your balance and strengthen the affected areas. Shoe inserts, compression socks and sports compression foot sleeves are other tools that you can use to help gain orthopedic support. These tools will help improve blood flow and increase circulation to help you get back in shape quicker. In rare cases, surgery may be recommended for plantar fasciitis to help reduce the pressure on your ligaments and muscles.

Natural Therapies

In addition to sports and physical therapy, you may also want to consider natural ways to help break through the pain and get back to your busy work day. Natural remedies work well along with practicing common everyday techniques that can also give your recovery time a boost, such as:

*Eating healthy and keeping your weight under control.

*Wearing good shoes, and having the proper inserts in at all times.

*Exercising and stretching properly on a daily basis.

*Resting your heel and leg.

*Visiting a massage therapist.

*Applying ice to your heel and leg.

*Utilizing essential oils including coconut, lavender or eucalyptus to help with relaxing the surrounding muscles.

Keep in mind that you should always consult with your doctor when implementing any natural remedies, because it could interfere with your overall recovery. Finding a treatment that works for you is the best way to get through your recovery time and back to a normal routine.

Getting Through The Work Day

While you may be able to get a work excuse for a day or two, you won’t be able to get by without a paycheck for long. Having to push through can be damaging to your recovery, so make sure you follow your doctor’s orders by taking your medications, following through with physical therapy and most importantly, wearing your foot brace or other compression device every time you’re on your feet, If possible stay off your affected foot for as long as possible. Use a cushion support for standing to help relieve pressure, you can find a variety of health aid products by shopping online. Keep your foot stable and apply ice at the end of the day to help reduce swelling and inflammation.

Utilizing several methods to help alleviate the pain and discomfort of plantar fasciitis can help you heal faster. If you have any questions or concerns about the recovery process, contact your doctor for advice.